News / Regulatory Updates

On Monday, April 20, 2020, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released Cargo System Messaging Service (CSMS) 42429822 announcing the “Interim Implementation Instructions” for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

On Monday, April 20, 2020, the Secretary of the Treasury and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced in Cargo Systems Messaging Service 42423171 that they would be postponing for 90 calendar days the payment of duties, taxes and fees for importers experiencing a significant financial hardship due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) and that meet the specific guidelines below.

On Friday, February 10, 2020, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a Temporary Final Rule (TFR) on Federal Register Notice 85 No 70 FR 20195 to address the prioritization and allocation of certain scarce or threatened health and medical resources for domestic use. The intent of the rule is that the scarce or threatened personal protective equipment (PPE) materials remain in the United States for use in responding to the spread of COVID-19. The materials identified in the TFR may not be exported from the United States without explicit approval by FEMA.

On Tuesday, March 31, 2020, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) office released its third list of product exclusions to the Section 301 List 4A products currently subject to a 7.5% tariff in the Federal Register Notice 85 No 62 FR 17936.

On Thursday, March 26, 2020, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued Cargo Systems Messaging Service CSMS Message 42161666 advising that they are no longer accepting requests for additional days for payment which was announced in CSMS 42097586.

On Thursday, March 26, 2020, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) office released a new list of product exclusions to the Section 301 List 3 products currently subject to a 25% tariff in the Federal Register Notice 85 No. 59 17158.

On Friday, March 20, 2020, the United States and Mexico agreed to restrict all non-essential travel across the border in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus. It is important to note that this agreement, which will go into effect on Saturday, March 21, refers to non-essential travel only and will not affect trade.